I put this in the new thread, but everyone needs to understand that the insurance industry titans and lobbyists are Dem’s peeps, including Pres. Obama’s, too.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-health-lobbyists_bddec20,0,5453763,print.story

Neither you or I know how it’s going to work. We will have to wait and see. Like the bank bailout. Many people thought that was a mistake but lo and behold most of the banks have already paid the money back.

TM:

True that but ain’t the insurance industry their peeps? I’d figure they would not do anything to upset their cow.

Again if the industry is playing fair and being consistently monitored I don’t have a problem with them making more money.

You’re kidding, right? They obstruct because that’s what they do.

As for the insurance industry, there’s a reason their stocks are skyrocketing, and it’s NOT because of how bad the bill is for their business.

I disagree. It’s a good bill not great but a pretty good start. I don’t think the insurance industry is all that thrilled since one of the ways the Reid Bill pays for reform is to tax the money on those insurance profits.

If this is that kind of giveaway I just wondering why Republicans are filibustering. The insurance companies are one of their cash cows. Stands the reason then they would be leading the charge to pass this bill.

I’m not sure about the actual leftist label in the fact I’ve never really thought about it in those terms. But I do think people were looking for a bill that really put the hammer to the insurance industry. That was never in the cards.

If the industry is making more money by finally playing fair and the regulators are keeping a serious eye on them I really don’t have a problem with them making more money. The key though is playing fair and keeping an eye on them.

Even if he got that he would not get anywhere near what this bill provides. The bill is flawed but it does not suck. It really is going to do a lot of good for a lot of people and the CBO has estimated in the long run its going to save a lot of money. Even by the most conservative of estimates this bill is the most sweeping expansion since the Great Society.

Imo Dean is wrong. not only because Reconciliation has become the cure all when it is not. I know it takes a simple majority but there is no guarantee the votes are there.

Instead of starting over and piece mealing it through the best idea would be to pass the darn thing and fill in the gaps. That’s where reconciliation really can do a lot of good.

Jay Rockefeller, Chuck Schumer and Sherrod Brown are excited about this bill. There not 100 percent overjoyed because as Rockerfeller admitted nobody got everything they wanted but it’s a great start from what I’ve read.

I know Dean is a doctor. I also know the AMA and Nurses’s Association supports this bill. In addition Dean wrote an op ed saying the bill had no prudent purchasing to help with cost control. It does.

That’s a glaring omission.

Anywho: Y’know, it is amazing to me the way normally intelligent people simply don’t “get” the entire ‘abortion’ issue. For myself, I understand the key word here is “potential”. On one side we have the scientific viewpoint that this little mass of cells has the ‘potential’ of becoming the next great face carved into Mount Rushmore – but as of yet, it isn’t actually ’sacred’. Pushing the ‘Reset’ button is certainly acceptable on that side of the fence.

On the other side, there is a simply *huge* amount of people that believe that little mass of cells is a human being immediately. So to terminate that life without a damned good reason (like the Mother’s death) is – how do I make this more clear? – First Degree Murder.

Until my lovable ‘left’ truly Gets This we are doomed to argue about the subject until the ‘End-of-Days’ (okay – bad joke – but appropriate). The religious ‘right’ are NOT going to change their minds. Period.

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Thanks LL and everyone here at Taylor’s pad, Keep your head high, never quit, never lose that vision of a better day. I often imagine a time where we wake up with a smile simply because we’re able to do what we love for no other reason than that’s where our hearts lead…we are the pioneers of that future.

Merry Christmas!

P.S. Watch this vid of acoustical guitar genius Jon Butler and try not to smile…I dare you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VAkOhXIsI0

Thank you for supplying me with more hope.

We’re still fighting for change we can believe in aren’t we? Not with a lot of help from the WH- but perhaps that is the way the people will take back control of our country from the moneyed interests so completely invested in our government.

You, too, djjl. Hope you have a great holiday.

That annual cap was horrendous, LL. Dean’s blown this whole thing wide open, with things moving at least.

Daryl24, Dean meant the bill as it was shouldn’t have been supported and he would have voted against it. He also said he believed Dems should keep working on the bill to make it better, not “kill the bill,” as in kill health care reform. The trouble is that this bill sucks. Deans 1st choice is to start over and go thru reconciliation, but he won’t get that.

Let’s also remember that Dean’s a doctor who has also implemented health care in Vermont. Kerry and others are circling the wagons, which is their job, but the incoming @ Dean is targeting the wrong person. But then they can’t go after the boss.

Buckhill…I think I read in the CBO write up on the managers admendments that couples making more than $250K and individuals making more than $200K will be paying higher payroll taxes.

I am surprised at your willingness to accept the compromise on abortion Taylor, but everyone seemingly is giving up their principles these days.

That is just insulting, kris, and I do not appreciate it. I am not in the position to bargain squat. The bargaining began with Nancy Pelosi, and I’ve been fighting and pushing all along. I didn’t make this deal, nor did I decide not to do reconciliation. I also have not said I will support the bill yet.

Perhaps you and others will be happier, kris, if Stupak’s deal with McConnell & the Republicans in conference goes through and we get worse?

Honestly. No one could be working harder than myself to write on the dynamics playing out. The people who chime in here are conflicted, as they have every right to be, talking out their hopes of having some health care changes. Last time I looked, kris, you weren’t so dogmatic or judgmental about people who care a lot about these things. It’s really unfortunate and even unfair.

BuckHill says:
19 December 2009 at 3:16 pm (Edit)

With all due respect the bill in its current form should be voted down.

That’s where I still stand, BuckHill, as I understand the bill right now, but it’s unlikely to happen. The mandates without competition are horrible, so if that remains, well… In the end, whatever comes out is going to be bad politically, as well as in policy prescription.

Any of them can on any bill. If Lieberman and Nelson had been on board from the beginning then we might still be dealing with Bayh and some other senator. Because for whatever reason that’s how they roll.

It ain’t easy and the process is nerve wracking but we’re further along on this issue than ever before.

I so hope Rockefeller is right. If that is the case, I wouldn’t mind but I have my doubts, watching the process on this bill. I still am peeved that Lieberman and Nelson could hijack the policy.

“Kerry continues to disappoint.”

Jay Rockerfeller did it also. So did Mary Landrieu. I think they had to.

You can’t really have the former head of the Democratic National Committee going on national tv and say kill the bill as his team is trying to cross the goal line. I just don’t think that’s a good idea.